Lamb welcomes minister's intervention to try to secure homes for local people

12.00.00pm GMT Thu 2nd Feb 2006

Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, has today received a letter from Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning (ODPM) regarding the future of RAF West Raynham.

Following meeting between Norman Lamb and the Minister in December, the Minister had asked English Partnerships to review the site. Their study has now been completed, and it appears from the Minister's letter that EP are now pursuing some interests in RAF West Raynham.

"I welcome the intervention of the Minister which I hope will help to secure the site for housing for local people," says Norman Lamb.

Below is a copy of the letter:

From Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning ODMP

Dear Norman

RAF West Raynham

I refer to our meeting on 15th December to discuss this site in your constituency. At the meeting I explained why English Partnerships, the Agency which takes the lead on reusing surplus public sector land, had not expressed an interest in this site when it was put on the register of surplus land in October 2004. The site therefore remains the responsibility of Defence Estates who are proceeding with their disposal plans.

While I am not in a position to intervene in the Defence Estates' plans, I did agree to ask English Partnerships to review the site with a view to considering future options and the potential to reuse the abandoned housing on the site in particular. EP has undertaken this study and sent a draft report which officials are considering.

EP's preliminary views are that the site does offer some potential for reuse but that the remote location, policy environment, service difficulties and weak market will restrict this and limit the realistic options available.

English Partnerships are pursing some potential interests in the site.Clearly these are tentative discussions at this stage with no commitments from the parties involved. Any long term proposal would appear to require the involvement of a range of organisations and interests given the complexities of the site.

North Norfolk District Council and Defence Estates will also need to be involved in any discussion about possible options for the site. NNDC, I understand, adopted a policy position in December for the site to support the disposal process. As local planning authority their role in establishing the policy environment will be critical. Defence Estates will want to be aware of any potential interest in the site, from the public or private sector.

I think the next step will be for EP and the Government Office for the Estate of England to facilitate discussions with the various interested parties including NNDC and DE on the future options for the site. This needs to be taken forward quickly given the context of DE's current marketing of West Raynham. Potential interest and ideas from the private sector will be an important component of any long term solution.

I have asked officials to keep me in touch with the consideration of options for the site as discussions progress, although I must also have regard to the potential for my future involvement as Planning Minister and ensure that this is not compromised. I am sure that you will also want to be kept in touch with discussions as they progress and your interest will be made clear to those involved.

Yvette Cooper.